System for collecting and managing rainfall attenuation and rainfall intensity on satellite communications system

ABSTRACT

Provided is a system for collecting and managing rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data in a satellite communication system. The system may include: a satellite transmitter to transmit a satellite beacon signal; a Global Positioning System (GPS) to transmit a GPS signal; at least one data collecting apparatus to generate rainfall attenuation data about the satellite beacon signal when the satellite beacon signal is received from the satellite transmitter, and to generate rainfall intensity data within a valid path length of rainfall attenuation, to extract time information from the GPS signal, and to assign the time information to the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data; and a data managing apparatus to receive, from the at least one data collecting apparatus, the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data assigned with the time information, and to manage the received rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2010-0121313, filed on Dec. 1, 2010, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system for collectingand managing rain attenuation data and rainfall intensity data in asatellite communication system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A satellite beacon signal used in a satellite communication system maybe transmitted from a satellite transmitter that is positioned at theattitude of about 36,000 km.

The satellite beacon signal may be scattered and be attenuated due toraindrop, snow, and the like. An attenuation level of the satellitebeacon signal occurring due to the raindrop is referred to as rainfallattenuation.

In general, an attenuation amount of the satellite beacon signal mayvary based on the size of the raindrop, that is, the rainfall intensityand thus, there is a need to simultaneously measure the rainfallattenuation and the rainfall intensity.

In the conventional art, it was general to measure the rainfallattenuation and the rainfall intensity using separate apparatuses andthen generate rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data, andto transmit the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensitydata to a central processing apparatus or a management apparatus througha person's manipulation on each apparatus. During this process,immediate data transmission has not been performed due to the person'smanipulation.

In addition, in countries having frequent regional torrential rains suchas Korea, the rainfall intensity has needed to be measured in manyregions to develop a rainfall attenuation prediction model. However, therainfall attenuation and the rainfall intensity has been measuredwithout using a valid path length of rainfall attenuation and thus, itwas difficult to accurately measure the rainfall attenuation and therainfall intensity depending on regions.

Also, rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data having theidentical time information may be matched and thereby be used. Eachapparatus may obtain time to information for triggering a moduleincluded therein from a general purpose computer. However, when a timeerror occurs in the general purpose computer, or when the generalpurpose computer malfunctions, accurate time information may not beobtained. Accordingly, due to inaccurate generation time informationassociated with the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensitydata, the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data maynot be accurately matched.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention provides a system that may measurerainfall attenuation and rainfall intensity using a single apparatus,and transmit the measured rainfall attenuation and rainfall intensity toa data managing apparatus over an Ethernet communication network,thereby enabling rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity datato be automatically transmitted in real time and be managed.

Another aspect of the present invention also provides a system that maymeasure rainfall intensity in a plurality of regions based on a validpath length of rainfall attenuation and thereby collect and manageaccurate rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data.

Another aspect of the present invention also provides a system that mayextract time information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) signaland may assign the time information to rainfall attenuation data andrainfall intensity data and thereby accurately match rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data that are generated at thesame time.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided asystem for collecting and managing rainfall attention data and rainfallintensity data in a satellite communication system, the systemincluding: a satellite transmitter to transmit a satellite beaconsignal; a GPS to transmit a GPS signal; at least one data collectingapparatus to generate rainfall attenuation data about the satellitebeacon signal when the satellite beacon signal is received from thesatellite transmitter, and to generate rainfall intensity data within avalid path length of rainfall attenuation, to extract time informationfrom the GPS signal, and to assign the time information to the rainfallattenuation data and the rainfall intensity data; and a data managingapparatus to receive, from the at least one data collecting apparatus,the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data assignedwith the time information, and to manage the received rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for collecting and managingrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data in a satellitecommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a datacollecting apparatus to collect rainfall attenuation data and rainfallintensity data according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating rainfall attenuation measuring modulesinstalled in a plurality of regions according to an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of collecting and managingrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data in a satellitecommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. Exemplary embodiments are described below to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

When it is determined detailed description related to a related knownfunction or configuration they may make the purpose of the presentinvention unnecessarily ambiguous in describing the present invention,the detailed description will be omitted here. Also, terminologies usedherein are defined to appropriately describe the exemplary embodimentsof the present invention and thus may be changed depending on a user,the intent of an operator, or a custom. Accordingly, the terminologiesmust be defined based on the following overall description of thisspecification.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system for collecting and managingrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data (hereinafter,referred to as a “system”) in a satellite communication system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system may include a satellite transmitter 10,a Global Positioning System (GPS) 20, a first data collecting apparatus100, and a data managing apparatus 1000. In FIG. 1, the system mayinclude at least one data collecting apparatus to measure rainfallattenuation and rainfall intensity and thereby collect rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data. For example, the systemmay include the first data collecting apparatus 100 and a second datacollecting apparatus 200 being installed in different regions, based ona valid path length of rainfall attenuation.

In FIG. 1, the first data collecting apparatus 100 and the second datacollecting apparatus 200 are installed in different regions, however,have the same operation and configuration. Accordingly, in FIG. 1, theoperation and the configuration will be described based on the firstdata collecting apparatus 100.

Also, even though the system including the first data collectingapparatus 100 and the second data collecting apparatus 200 are shown inFIG. 1, the further number of apparatuses may be installed in aplurality of regions within the valid path length of rainfallattenuation.

The satellite transmitter 10 may continuously transmit a satellitebeacon signal at the altitude of about 36,000 km corresponding to aheight of a geostationary orbit.

The GPS 20 may transmit a GPS signal. The first data collectingapparatus 100 may measure rainfall attenuation and rainfall intensityand thereby collect rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensitydata, which may also be referred to as “rainfall attenuation andrainfall intensity data”.

For example, when a satellite beacon signal is received from thesatellite transmitter 10, the first data collecting apparatus 100 maygenerate rainfall attenuation data by measuring the rainfall attenuationof the received satellite beacon signal. The first data collectingapparatus 100 may generate rainfall intensity data by measuring therainfall intensity within the valid path length of the rainfallattenuation.

When a GPS signal is received from the GPS 20, the first data collectingapparatus 100 may extract time information from the GPS signal and mayassign the extracted time information to the rainfall attenuation dataand the rainfall intensity data. For example, the first data collectingapparatus 100 may convert the GPS signal to 1 Pulse Per Second (PPS) tothereby extract time information from the 1PPS, and may stamp the timeinformation in a front portion of the rainfall attenuation data and therainfall intensity data to thereby generate a time frame.

The first data collecting apparatus 100 may verify the time frame andmay match rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data havingcorresponding time information and thereby store the matched rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data in a storage medium.

The first data collecting apparatus 100 may transmit the matchedrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data to the datamanaging apparatus 1000. The first data collecting apparatus 100 and thedata managing apparatus 1000 may transmit and receive data atpredetermined intervals, for example, every five seconds over theEthernet communication network.

The data managing apparatus 1000 may control the first data collectingapparatus 100 and the second data collecting apparatus 200. The datamanaging apparatus 1000 may receive rainfall attenuation data andrainfall intensity data from the first data collecting apparatus 100 andthe second data collecting apparatus 200, and may manage the receivedrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data. For example, thedata managing apparatus 1000 may verify the time frame included in therainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data, may classifythe rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data based on aregion unit, a minute unit, a time unit, and a day unit using the timeframe, and may thereby store the classified rainfall attenuation dataand rainfall intensity data in a database.

Also, the data managing apparatus 1000 may generate statistical datawith respect to the stored rainfall attenuation data and rainfallintensity data for each region and time. Also, the data managingapparatus 1000 may develop a rainfall attenuation prediction model usingthe rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data.

The data managing apparatus 1000 may display in real time rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data that is received from thefirst data collecting apparatus 100, and may display the generatedstatistical data. Also, the data managing apparatus 1000 may monitor anoperational state of the first data collecting apparatus 100 and thesecond data collecting apparatus 200, and may control an operationthereof based on the collected data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a datacollecting apparatus to collect rainfall attenuation data and rainfallintensity data according to an embodiment of the present invention.Here, the data collecting apparatus may correspond to the first datacollecting apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 and thus, be referred to as the datacollecting apparatus 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, the data collecting apparatus 100 may include asatellite signal receiving module 110, a rainfall attenuation measuringmodule 120, a GPS signal receiving module 130, a rainfall intensitymeasuring module 140, a storage medium 150, a control module 160, and adata transmitting/receiving module 170. The data collecting apparatus100 may be installed within a valid path length of rainfall attenuation.

The satellite signal receiving module 110 may receive a satellite beaconsignal from the satellite transmitter 10. The satellite signal receivingmodule 110 may be an antenna for receiving the satellite beacon signal.The satellite signal receiving module 110 may low noise amplify a minutemagnitude of the satellite beacon signal that is transmitted from thesatellite transmitter 10, and may frequency down-convert the satellitebeacon signal to a signal of an intermediate frequency band.

The rainfall attenuation measuring module 120 may generate rainfallattenuation data by measuring rainfall attenuation of the frequencydown-converted satellite beacon signal. The rainfall attenuationmeasuring module 120 may measure the rainfall attenuation according tothe following Equation 1:

A=aR^(b)L_(e)   [Equation 1]

In Equation 1, A denotes the rainfall attenuation dB, R denotes therainfall intensity mm/hr, each of a and b denotes an attenuationcoefficient depending on a temperature of raindrop, a frequency, apolarization, a size distribution of raindrop particles, and the like,and Le denotes the valid path length. The rainfall intensity measured bythe rainfall intensity measuring module 140 may be used.

The GPS signal receiving module 130 may receive a GPS signal from theGPS 20. The GPS signal receiving module 130 may be an active antenna. Acommon GPS antenna such as the active antenna may receive C/A(CoarseAcquisition) code of 1575.42±1.023 MHz as the GPS signal and therebyperform ground visibility calibration, receiving point measurement,speed/direction measurement, and the like using accurate timeinformation and satellite orbit information.

The rainfall intensity measuring module 140 may generate rainfallintensity data by measuring the rainfall intensity. The rainfallintensity measuring module 140 may measure the rainfall intensity usingan optical scheme and thus, may include a transmitting lens, a receivinglens, and a control configuration. The rainfall intensity measuringmodule 140 may emit an infrared (IR) signal for the rainfall intensitymeasurement towards a three-dimensional (3D) space using thetransmitting lens, and may receive the IR signal reflected from the 3Dspace using the receiving lens.

The rainfall intensity measuring module 140 may compute a signal changeamount by comparing the emitted IR signal and the reflected IR signalusing the control configuration, and may generate the rainfall intensitydata by measuring the rainfall intensity corresponding to the signalchange amount.

At least one rainfall intensity measuring module 140 may be installedwithin the valid path length of rainfall attenuation. For example, aplurality of rainfall intensity modules 140 may be installed.

The control signal 160 may receive a GPS signal, rainfall attenuationdata, and rainfall intensity data.

The control module 160 may convert the GPS signal to 1PPS, and mayextract time information, for example, Time of Day (ToD) from the 1PPS.The 1PPS may be National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) data thatincludes time information and location information. The control module160 may stamp the extracted time information in a front portion of therainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data and therebygenerate a time frame. For example, the control module 160 may assignthe extracted time information to the front portion of the rainfallattenuation data and the rainfall intensity data in a time frame form.

The control module 160 may verify the time frame that is included in thefront portion of each of the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfallintensity data, and may match the rainfall attenuation data and therainfall intensity data having corresponding time information. The timeinformation may include year, month, day, and time information.

The control module 160 may verify the year, month, day, and timeinformation from the time frame, and may match the rainfall attenuationdata and the rainfall intensity data having corresponding year, month,day, and time information.

The control module 160 may store, in the storage medium 150, therainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data that arematched based on a time information unit, and may control the datatransmitting/receiving module 170 to transmit the stored rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data to the data managingapparatus 1000 at predetermined intervals over the Ethernetcommunication network. The control module 160 may access apre-registered Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)of the data managing apparatus 1000 over the Ethernet communicationnetwork.

The control module 160 may transmit in real time the rainfallattenuation data and the rainfall intensity data to the data managingapparatus 1000 over the Ethernet communication network, therebydecreasing a manpower cost and enhancing a data transmission rate.

The data collecting apparatus 100 of FIG. 2 may generate rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data by measuring the rainfallattenuation and the rainfall intensity, and may transmit the generatedrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data to the datamanaging apparatus 1000 in real time and automatically. Accordingly, itis possible to decrease a manpower cost used for collecting andtransmitting rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data.

Also, the data collecting apparatus 100 may install the rainfallintensity measuring modules 140 in different regions within the validpath length of rainfall attenuation and thereby more accurately measurethe rainfall attenuation and the rainfall intensity based on the validpath length.

Also, the data collecting apparatus 100 may extract time informationfrom a GPS signal and assign the extracted time information to rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data, thereby more accuratelymatching the rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data thatare generated at the same time. Accordingly, it is possible to moreaccurately generate statistical data and a rainfall attenuationprediction model.

Also, even though the data collecting apparatus 100 of FIG. 2 isconfigured to include the satellite signal receiving module 110, therainfall attenuation measuring module 120, the GPS signal receivingmodule 130, the rainfall intensity measuring module 140, the storagemedium 150, the control module 160, and the data transmitting/receivingmodule 170, the data collecting apparatus 100 may be configured as twoapparatuses that include a signal receiving and measuring configurationA and a data collecting configuration B, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating rainfall attenuation measuring modulesinstalled in a plurality of regions according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a satellite beacon signal transmitted from thesatellite transmitter 110 positioned at the altitude of about 36,000 kmmay be scattered and thereby be attenuated while passing raindropsfalling from clouds afloat at the altitude of about 4 km.

When raindrops uniformly fall within the valid path length of rainfallattenuation with respect to the satellite beacon signal, it is possibleto measure the rainfall attenuation and the rainfall intensity using asingle rainfall intensity measuring module. However, unlike regions B,C, and D, there is no raindrop in region A. Thus, even though therainfall intensity is not measured, a satellite beacon signal may passraindrops and thereby be received. Accordingly, the rainfall attenuationmay be measured. That is, since the rainfall attenuation may be measuredin a state where there is no measured rainfall intensity, it may bedifficult to use the measured rainfall attenuation for a rainfallattenuation prediction model. Accordingly, the data collecting apparatus100 may include first through fourth rainfall intensity measuringmodules 141, 142, 143, and 144 within the valid path length of rainfallattenuation with respect to the received satellite beacon signal.

Within the valid path length of rainfall attenuation with respect to thesatellite beacon signal, the first rainfall intensity measuring module141 may be installed in the region A and the second rainfall intensitymeasuring module 142 may be installed in the region B. Also, the thirdrainfall intensity measuring module 143 may be installed in the region Cand the fourth rainfall intensity measuring module 144 may be installedin the region D.

The first through the fourth rainfall intensity measuring modules 141,142, 143, and 144 may generate rainfall intensity data by measuring therainfall intensity at the same time intervals according to control ofthe control module 160. The generated rainfall intensity data mayinclude region information about the regions A, B, C, and D where thefirst through the fourth rainfall intensity measuring modules 141, 142,143, and 144 are respectively installed.

The control module 160 may verify time information and regioninformation that is included in plural rainfall intensity data, classifya rainfall type, rainfall intensity, and the like based on a time and aregion, and thereby generate statistical data.

Also, even though the first rainfall intensity measuring module 141 isinstalled within the valid path length of rainfall attenuation, theaverage rainfall intensity data may be generated using the rainfallintensity data generated in the second to the fourth rainfall intensitymeasuring modules 142, 143, and 144, excluding the first rainfallintensity measuring module 141 installed in the region A where there isno raindrop. The rainfall attenuation measuring module 120 may measurethe rainfall attenuation by applying the average rainfall intensity datato Equation 1.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of collecting and managingrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data in a satellitecommunication system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in operation 410, the data collecting apparatus 100may receive a satellite beacon signal from the satellite transmitter 10.In operation 420, the data collecting apparatus 100 may receive a GPSsignal from a GPS 20, and may extract time information from the GPSsignal. The data collecting apparatus 100 may receive the satellitebeacon signal and the GPS signal at predetermined time intervals.

In operation 430, the data collecting apparatus 100 may generaterainfall attenuation data by measuring the rainfall attenuation withrespect to the received satellite beacon signal.

In operation 440, the data collecting apparatus 100 may generaterainfall intensity data by measuring the rainfall intensity in at leastone region within the valid path length of rainfall attenuation. Therainfall intensity measuring module 140 for measuring the rainfallintensity may be installed in at least one region that is includedwithin the valid path length and may also be installed in a plurality ofregions. The rainfall intensity measuring module 140 may measure therainfall intensity using a transmitting lens and a receiving lens. Forexample, the rainfall intensity measuring module 140 may compute asignal change amount of an IR signal that is emitted towards a 3D spaceusing the transmitting lens and then is reflected from the 3D space andthereby is received using the receiving lens. The rainfall intensitymeasuring module 140 may generate the rainfall intensity data bymeasuring the rainfall intensity corresponding to the computed signalchange amount.

In operation 450, the data collecting apparatus 100 may assign, to therainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data, timeinformation that is extracted from the GPS signal.

In operation 460, the data collecting apparatus 100 may match therainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensity data assigned withthe time information based on a corresponding time information unit.

In operation 470, the data collecting apparatus 100 may transmit thematched rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data to thedata managing apparatus 1000 and thereby manage the rainfall attenuationdata and the rainfall intensity data.

According to the method of FIG. 4, it is possible to collect rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data close to an actualcircumstance, and to more accurately generate statistical data and arainfall attenuation prediction model using the collected rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a system forcollecting and measuring rainfall attenuation data and rainfallintensity data may transmit the rainfall attenuation data and rainfallintensity data to a data managing apparatus in real time over anEthernet communication system, thereby decreasing a manpower cost andenhancing a data transmission rate.

Also, the system may collect and manage accurate rainfall attenuationdata and rainfall intensity data by measuring the rainfall intensity ina plurality of regions based on a valid path length of rainfallattenuation.

Also, the system may accurately match rainfall attenuation data andrainfall intensity data, generated at the same time, by extracting timeinformation from a GPS signal and by assigning the extracted timeinformation to the rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensitydata.

The above-described exemplary embodiments of the present invention maybe recorded in computer-readable media including program instructions toimplement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may alsoinclude, alone or in combination with the program instructions, datafiles, data structures, and the like. Examples of computer-readablemedia include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, andmagnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVDs;magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices thatare specially configured to store and perform program instructions, suchas read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, andthe like. Examples of program instructions include both machine code,such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level codethat may be executed by the computer using an interpreter. The describedhardware devices may be configured to act as one or more softwaremodules in order to perform the operations of the above-describedexemplary embodiments of the present invention, or vice versa.

Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, the present invention is not limited to thedescribed exemplary embodiments.

Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departingfrom the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which isdefined by the claims and their equivalents.

1. A system for collecting and managing rainfall attention data andrainfall intensity data in a satellite communication system, the systemcomprising: a satellite transmitter to transmit a satellite beaconsignal; a Global Positioning System (GPS) to transmit a GPS signal; atleast one data collecting apparatus to generate rainfall attenuationdata about the satellite beacon signal when the satellite beacon signalis received from the satellite transmitter, and to generate rainfallintensity data within a valid path length of rainfall attenuation, toextract time information from the GPS signal, and to assign the timeinformation to the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfall intensitydata; and a data managing apparatus to receive, from the at least onedata collecting apparatus, the rainfall attenuation data and therainfall intensity data assigned with the time information, and tomanage the received rainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensitydata.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one datacollecting apparatus comprises: a satellite signal receiving module toreceive the satellite beacon signal from the satellite transmitter, andto frequency down-convert the satellite beacon signal to a signal of anintermediate frequency band; a GPS signal receiving module to receivethe GPS signal from the GPS; a rainfall attenuation measuring module togenerate the rainfall attenuation data by measuring rainfall attenuationof the satellite beacon signal that is converted to the intermediatefrequency band; a rainfall intensity measuring module being providedwithin the valid path length of the rainfall attenuation to generate therainfall intensity data by measuring the rainfall intensity; a controlmodule to extract time information from the GPS signal, to assign thetime information to the rainfall attenuation data and the rainfallintensity data, and to store the rainfall attenuation data and therainfall intensity data in a recording medium through matching thereofbased on a corresponding time information unit; and a datatransmitting/receiving module to transmit the matched rainfallattenuation data and rainfall intensity data to the data managingapparatus according to a control of the control module.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the control module converts the GPS signal to 1 PulsePer Second (PPS) to thereby extract time information from the 1PPS, andstamps the time information in a front portion of the rainfallattenuation data and the rainfall intensity data to thereby generate atime frame.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control modulecontrols the data transmitting/receiving module to transmit the matchedrainfall attenuation data and rainfall intensity data to the datamanaging apparatus over an Ethernet communication network.